And

please. On the contrary, it was easy to entertain her, indeed she generally provided herself with amusement. And bright were our hopes as we watched the unfolding of our blossom. And yet dark clouds will often flit across a mother's sky, casting a broad shadow over everything. the music of her household birds does not always dispel the gloom. Her anxious heart whispers, tears will surely din those now cloudless eyes. Those joyous hearts will one day bleed with anguish, and perhaps father and mother be sleeping in the dust. Oh that I could shelter them But it may not be,

from the ills of life!

"For a day is coming to quell the tone
That rings in thy laughter, thou joyous one!
And to dim thy brow with a touch of care
Under the gloss of its clustering hair;

And to tame the flash of thy cloudless eyes
Into the stillness of autumn-skies;

And to teach thee that grief hath her needful part,

Midst the hidden things of the human heart."

MRS. HEMANS.

Festal Dags.

"Bright be the skies that cover thee,
Child of the sunny brow,

Bright as the dream flung over thee
By all that meets thee now.
Thy heart is beating joyously,
Thy voice is like a bird's,
And sweetly breaks the melody
Of thine imperfect words.

I know no fount that gushes out

So gladly as thy tiny shout.

What shall preserve thee, beautiful child?—

Keep thee as thou art now ?— Bring thee a spirit undefiled,

At God's pure throne to bow?

The world is but a broken reed,
And life grows early dim :--
Who shall be near thee in thy need
To lead thee up to Him?

He who himself was 'undefiled.'

With him we trust thee, beautiful child."
N. P. WILLIS.

Nor many days after our return home, another birth-day came round. The following infantile epistle was dictated by Carrie on this welcome

occasion :

"My darling Papa,

"Here is a sugar-plum from Caddy. good. Papa love Caddy.

Papa

Caddy will be good, so

papa won't have to punish. and make papa happy.

We will all be good

Your dear Caddy."

Louise used to try a good many experiments with her little sister. One day on coming into the room, I found her sitting on the floor with Carrie in her lap, trying to force something into her mouth, while the poor child was resisting to the extent of her ability. "What are you doing

my daughter?"

66

Why I am trying to give the

baby medicine to make her feel better, but she

won't take it."

Carrie would do almost every

thing which her sister desired, but taking medicine was not quite so agreeable.

About this time occurred our child's second birth-day. These birth-days were great occasions with the children. The round table christened by them the "birth-day table," must be set out, and spread with their special playthings from the "birth-day box," and the "birth-day drawer." Then the letters and the presents, id candies and cakes, and apples and oranges and nuts, were all placed before the queen of the day, who with her own fair hand, waited upon the table, distributing the good things to her parents and sister, not forgetting a share for the girl in the kitchen, and the dollies all seated quietly around the table. This being ended, and the children left to their own resources, they failed not to entertain themselves most happily.

Soon came on Thanksgiving, that day so dear to New England hearts, and so joyfully welcomed by New England children. Then followed Christmas, that our little girls fancied was a very kind lady to bring them such presents." Last of all came New Year's day, redolent with kind wishes and warm greetings. The children thought there was a bright constellation of festal-days, so rapidly did they succeed one another. I sat up

late the last night of the old year, to re-dress their old dolls, and to manufacture new ones. In the morning, they were not long in discovering their new children, and their new-dressed old children. And musical were their voices, as they surveyed the wonderful things that had been collected. "I wish every day would be a birth-day, or Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or New Year's, or some such day." "But why ?" "Oh, because we are so happy."

How amply is a mother repaid for all her labors by the bright faces of her dear ones! It is pleasant in looking back upon the past, whether as parents or children, to see scattered along our pilgrim-path, these green oases hallowed by the tenderest affection. And how will a mother, who has all along the passing years of their infancy, childhood, and youth, devoted herself to making such days bright eras with her children, -how vividly as the day comes round, will such a mother be brought to their remembrance, even when for years the sod has covered her! Shall not the fond mother then, gather a few pearls for the fairy days of childhood? Will she not weave some threads of gold into the dull warp